Emancipatory Science

10.1163/ej.9789004184060.i-344.72

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Chapter Summary

This book is an immanent critique of Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT), following the arguments raised within CHAT against positions defended within CHAT, and endeavoring in each case to disclose the underlying source of the contradiction, and with the benefit of hindsight, identify the most satisfactory resolution. In subjecting a current of thought to immanent critique, the critic places themself within that school of thought. Changes in the Zeitgeist flow through all domains of thought and new directions taken by one science may be taken up by others. There is great scope today for reflection on the idea of emancipatory science. Marx's was the emancipatory science par excellence: the raison d'être for Marx's work was the liberation of humanity. The key criticism that Leontyev made of Vygotsky's psychology was that because of division of labor.